Kidney Stone Prevention Management

Unfortunately, once you have had kidney stones, it increases the likelihood that you will experience them again; probably within seven years, if you don’t take preventive measures. The good news is, there are both medical and lifestyle options for kidney stone prevention management.

Citrate:

Consuming sugar-free citrus beverages such as lemonade and orange juice, in moderation, may help to block stone formation as well.

Calcium:

Contrary to popular belief, reducing your calcium intake does not decrease your risk for kidney stones. In fact, the opposite is true—too little calcium can raise oxalate levels that lead to crystallization! So make sure you get enough calcium for your age, ideally from food rather than supplementation…along with Vitamin D for enhanced absorption.

Reduce sodium:

Excess sodium in your diet can increase calcium in urine, leading to stone formation, as well as affecting your heart and blood pressure. Reducing daily intake of sodium to a range of 1,500–2,300mg can make a positive difference. Consider using a salt substitute for flavor.

Dietary changes:

Limit your intake of purine-high animal protein like red meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood to about the size of a deck of playing cards, and eat it less often. This can help lower uric acid levels and boost citrate in urine, a chemical that keeps stones from forming.

At the same time, eat more fruits and vegetables and don’t overdo sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

Medications:

Discuss any family history or other risk factors of kidney stones with Dr. Laub, who may be able to prescribe certain drugs. For example: thiazide diuretic or a phosphate preparation for calcium stone prevention; allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) plus an alkalizing agent for uric acid stones; long-term, low-dose antibiotics for struvite stones; or a medication to decrease the amount of cystine in the urine for cystine stones.

Get support:

About 15% of kidney stone patients don’t take prescribed medications and more than 40% do not keep up with preventive nutritional changes. These kinds of lifestyle changes are much easier to maintain with the support of a dietician…ask Dr. Laub for a referral.